The former prisoners building a better future

On the surface, the series of flat conversions near London’s King’s Cross could be just another redevelopment project – the smell of fresh paint wafting through dusty air as a team of people paint skirting boards, strip wallpaper and renovate rooms.

But the group working on this redevelopment are all former prisoners, and they believe their jobs have offered them a chance to stop reoffending.

‘You have to reform yourself’

Aayan*, 27, is stripping wallpaper in a bathroom. He grew up in Peckham, south London, and was studying politics at university when he was arrested. He spent two years and three months in prison in Dorset for possession and intent to supply drugs. “Prison doesn’t reform you – you have to reform yourself,” he says.

He had considered studying the courses offered in prison, but says they were basic numeracy and literacy – so he decided to concentrate on vocational studies that would lead to a job. “Once I was in there, that was the end of politics,” he says. He now lives with his wife in Enfield, north London.

An opportunity

For him, Bounce Back – a charity that supports former prisoners in gaining employment – has proved invaluable. He helps to coach newer recruits. “I understand where the boys are coming from, and am there for them both in and outside of work,” he says. “It’s about giving people a chance. When I first came out with a qualification in painting and decorating, Bounce Back gave me the opportunity.”

In the UK, there is a 50 per cent chance of people who have served prison sentences lasting less than a year reoffending, while those who have served between one and four years have a 36 per cent reoffending rate. Those who are employed by Bounce Back have a 12 per cent reoffending rate.

Training centres in prisons

The charity and social enterprise, which has a commercial decorating business attached, has now trained more than 500 people. Many are employed through Bounce Back, and once they have experience, many go on to set up their own businesses. The group has three training centres in HMP Brixton teaching painting and decorating, dry lining (which provides the skills to make partition walls) and scaffolding. There is also a training centre in HMP Wandsworth, as well as on-site safety courses in a number of other prisons.

Fran Findlater set up Bounce Back five years ago. She had first become interested in helping offenders in 2008, when her design business offered two intern roles to former prisoners. Then, when her offices needed painting, she recruited in prison and gave the job to people directly on release. As she was asked for painter and decorator recommendations, she was able to pass on work. “By endorsing and supporting people, they start to feel differently,” she explains.

Reversing the skills shortage

This evolved into her decorating business, and the training centres. “There is a massive skills shortage in construction. We have support from big construction companies, including Land Securities, Lendlease, Mace, Keltbray and Alandale, which all make sure people get jobs straight out of prison,” says Ms Findlater.

She has rarely received a negative reaction to her teams. “People seem to say, ‘If it’s OK with you, it’s OK with us’.

“People change their lives by breaking cycles of crime,” she adds. “To reduce the number of people in prison, we have to give them an opportunity. We’ve got to change the complexion of how we deal with crime.”

Branson’s backing

It is an approach backed by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. Last week he encouraged all businesses to recruit ex-offenders, and said that 3 per cent of new Virgin Trains employees, hired over the past year, are former prisoners. He believes it “increases the talent pool, lowers the price tag for reoffending, nurtures entrepreneurial spirit and contributes to safer communities”.

“Dabs” Ghebremedhin, 36, is project manager at Bounce Back, where he has worked since it was founded. “I absolutely love it,” he says. “I’ve been put in a position of responsibility – and it helped me fix up as a young man myself. I couldn’t contradict what I said – I have to follow my preaching. I get a good response from the boys and every day is a honeymoon period. I never run out of enthusiasm because it gives me so much personal satisfaction.”

He went to prison for four months in 2010 after drink driving. He didn’t find prison itself hard, and says that growing up in Eritrea until the age of 11, when he moved to the UK, was tougher. But he missed his family. “I have responsibilities with my nephews and nieces, and couldn’t help people on the outside,” he remembers. “Prison doesn’t do much: they bang you up and you come out worse – you don’t come out rehabilitated. But the courses have a really positive impact.”

Taking it to No. 10

He hopes one day that everyone will accept those who have made mistakes in their past. “My target is to repaint the front door on 10 Downing Street or the Ministry of Justice offices. I want to help change the mindset of civilians.”

He helped set up the training centre in Brixton, and guides new recruits who have just been released. “When people first come out, the chances are they have never worked before. I try and get their work ethic going – a lot don’t know what a day’s work looks like. I sit on the job and work with the trainees. I check people can get home, lend them money – it’s like a family unit: we support each other.”

New recruits

Isaias, 23, is one of those new recruits. He lives with his parents in Catford, south London, and joined the company a fortnight ago after serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence. “This is my first job,” he says. “I’ve learnt to be on time and to work in a team, and I’m learning to get jobs finished. My mum and dad are really happy for me.” He hopes to set up his own painting and decorating business in the years to come.

He is working on the Islington flat alongside Ahmed, 33, who has been with Bounce Back since he was released in November. He served a three-year sentence in Brixton for dealing Class A drugs. “I’d never worked in my life; I was up to this and that, but this is my first actual job,” he says. “If it weren’t for Bounce Back, I’d probably be doing illegal activities again now.” He grew up in London but now lives in Kent with his girlfriend, and the couple are expecting a baby in October. “I’ve never been in a team where the boys are good – it’s a nice experience.”

‘I just needed somebody to give me a chance’

David, 36, who has been working for the company since 2013, echoes his sentiments. “It’s given me the chance to have a career,” he says. He finished his last sentence in 2008, for possession and intent to supply drugs, and found Bounce Back through the probation service. “I was already out of the stage of being in prison, but I just needed somebody to give me a chance.”

Amid the paint fumes and dust, it is clear these men have found an invaluable support network. Aayan says: “We understand the value of working. People here have the same issues and there’s an emotional bond. It gives us a sense of belonging.”

*Some names have been changed to protect family identities

To employ Bounce Back for painting or decorating, contact the team on 020 7735 1256 or [email protected] – or visit bouncebackproject.com

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